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The RNLI has clarified a viral story that the family of a young child saved by the organisation asked the organisation to refund them the cost of their £7 lilo after it was damaged in the rescue.

It was reported that Mike Carter, head of the RNLI’s station in Porthleven, Cornwall, had revealed last week that coastguards were sent an invoice for the inflatable after a recent helicopter rescue.

Mr Carter said he had been told about the incident from RNLI staff at “771 SAR”, a specialist search and rescue squadron based on the Cornish coast.

But the lifeboat authority has now clarified that, while the incident may have happened, it wasn’t any time recently.

1980s anecdote

A spokesman for the RNLI told i: ”The story about parents sending the RNLI a bill for a £7 lilo is in fact an anecdote from an incident which happened back in the 1980s – it is not a recent incident.

”The anecdote was recounted in passing at an event in the south west at the weekend and has since been incorrectly reported as a recent occurrence.

”Additionally, rescue helicopters are provided by the coastguard. The RNLI provides a lifeboat search and rescue service from 238 lifeboat stations around the UK and Ireland and lifeguards on over 240 beaches, but does not cover helicopter provision.”

Offshore wind

The story goes that a family who were visiting the seaside resort purchased a lilo from a shop on the seafront and went down to the beach.

“There was an offshore wind and the parents immediately experienced their child waving goodbye as the lilo went further and further out,” he said in a Facebook post.

“The Coastguard scrambled the SAR helicopter which was soon on scene. The diver jumped from the the helicopter and saved the child.

The commanding officer of the RNLI unit reportedly asked the family to pay £7,000 for the rescue. (Getty)

“He instantly put a knife through the lilo to save any further drifting and they were both winched to safety.”

After the incident, the unit’s commanding officer reportedly received an invoice for £7 to cover the cost of the damaged lilo.

He reportedly replied: “I will be happy to pay your invoice on receipt of payment for the helicopter rescue £7,000.”

Mr Carter said in his viral post that following the request: “No response was received.”

Serious warning

The south west of England has the second highest number of coastal deaths in the UK.

Lifeguards and rescue crews helped almost 10,000 casualties around Cornwall and north Devon last year.

The RNLI says the number of shouts and rescues it deals with at this time of year are higher, because of the influx of visitors.

In stormy weather, such as the recent spell, the charity says conditions can quickly change off the Cornish coast with dangerous effects.

Earlier this month the Maritime and Coastguard Agency warned that people could end up in danger if they attempt to use inflatables anywhere but the pool.

“Inflatable unicorns, watermelons, dinosaurs, you name it, we’ve seen it,” a post from the agency read. Keep your floating friends for the pool. They may pose well for Insta, but they can also pose a danger when up against strong currents and wind, sweeping you out to sea.

This article was updated on Tuesday to clarify that the RNLI believe the anecdote is from the 1980s.

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